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I'll second the Mega Cab dually if you want a short box and dual wheels. Personally, I would want a long bed for a truck camper. It gives you a lot more options in camper selection. Just like getting a dually will increase your options as well. However, for the camper you seem to be looking at I...

If you run the items listed off your current battery it may work for a while. However, you're draining that battery fairly far down and the more you do that the shorter it's life. The best solution is a dual battery set up. Keep the one you have and install a second deep cycle unit for your...

That sounds like a great find. I hope you can somehow close the budget gap. The 8.1L I had was almost as powerful as my '05 Duramax. Almost. I have a friend with a 1500 Sub. and the 5.3 V8. He pulls a 29 foot camper with his wife and 3 kids in the cab. It does a nice job of it really. I rode...

You would divide by the panel voltage if using a PWM controller. If using an MPPT controller, which I would recommend, you divide by the battery voltage. That's one of the main advantages of the MPPT units. They allow for using the full output of the panel. You can never quite do that with a...

Every vehicle I've had has been larger than the one before it. I went: S10 blazer, K5 blazer, ext. cab 1500 Dodge, crew cab diesel dually. The next truck will probably be a 4500 Dodge with a flat bed to carry the truck camper. I just never seem to have enough room for everything. Of course...

Why did you limit your choices on Suburbands to the 2006 model year? Don't like the new body? If you like the Ex I would think a 4 x 4 version would be a great choice. Certainly a 2500 Sub. would also fit the need. If you're concerned about the size you could look at a Tahoe with the 3rd row of...

You're correct. You do need a 30 amp controller. I'm not sure why someone would say that is overkill; math says otherwise. Your best option, for maximum power output from the array is to use an MPPT charge controller. Blue Sky, Morningstar, Outback, and others are good choices. Using an MPPT...

You don't want air shocks. Bilstein or KYB Monomax would be the best. Rancho 9000 if you think you need adjust ability. Shock mounts aren't designed to support weight but that is what air shocks make them do.

What do you mean "what am I not understanding?" It appears to me that you have a pretty good understanding. You've done all the correct math. However, AAM actually rated that axle at a bit over 10,000 pounds. I would install 19.5" wheels and tires with a weight rating as high as you can get...

Lance 835 might be right for you. The 815 was a little narrower yet. Northstar advertises that their campers are only 7' wide so that would seem to fit your need also. S&S made a model that allowed you to close the tail gate. I think it was the 7.5 something.

Do Timbren's leave you any suspension compression travel? Seems like they're basically a block of rubber on top of the axle. It would be about like riding around on the bumpstops. I have had airbags on 3 different trucks. With the onboard compressor and gauges adjustment is easy. My rig can be...

Keep in mind that the sticker in the glove box assumes you have a 150 pound person sitting in every seat position. If it's a 6 passenger truck that's 750 pounds beyond the drivers weight that may be available for a camper if you're not hauling passengers.

Having your truck and camper weigh more than the truck's GVWR is not illegal. There is no law being broken. DOT doesn't care. They go by tire and axle weights which you'd better not be exceeding. Also, you need to be careful about your registered weight. A truck with a 10,000 pound GVWR, loaded...

I have Atwood jacks. I don't know if they're the economy ones. I would guess not since mine are on an 11' hardside TC. Anyway, it's a 2002 model. The jacks are original, and I've never had any problem from them at all.

I'd just like to add that your original question was about "legal" towing capacity. There really isn't any such thing. You can tow as much as you want (within licensing requirements) and it's not "illegal". The only legally enforceable weight limits are your tires and axle weight limits. That's...

I use the Blue Sea ACR on 3 different trucks. It works great. I don't have to worry about my truck not starting. I don't have to worry about setting a switch in the right spot. I don't have to make sure my batteries match.

In theory one of those panels will charge your battery back up. The reality is it will take too long. Assuming your Rubicon battery is roughly 75 Ah and you run it down 80% you need to put 60 Ah back in. One of these panels is 50 watts, that's about 2.8 amps in full sun so it would take 21 hours...

The Whistler and Xantrex are worlds apart in quality. Xantrex has been making inverters for at least 30 years. They include many large inverters used in off grid homes. I've installed many of their 6,000 watt models over the years. A Sinewave inverter is important if you're running sensitive...

Unless you really plan on transmitting on HF while driving thru the trees the easiest and safest bet is to just remove the antenna. Those things are expensive and I wouldn't want to tear one up. Something that heavy on a spring is going to have a lot of "recoil" for lack of a better term. When...

I use 4 Happi-jack turnbuckles to hold my 11' camper on my flatbed. The front two angle in and slightly forward. The rear ones angle in and slightly back. I have had no trouble with the camper moving around. I also have 3/4" rubber stall mats underneath it. I just have "D" rings in the bed of...